Author's Note: I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I do apologize since I know it takes me a bit of time in between updates. I try to do as much research as possible but my knowledge is limited and I acknowledge that there will be mistakes.

Aside from studying martial arts as an adolescent, I have no experience fighting or sparring but have tried my best to review, research and study them again with the time available to me.

Remember that is an AU so if it clashes with your memories or how the shows went, it is supposed to since it is how I want to see things.

Thanks again for reading and for being kind. It's hard to put this out so please if you have nothing good to say keep it to yourself and move along.

Disclaimers: I still don't own the characters from The Arrow, BTVS, The Flash, Angel, Roswell, Beauty And The Beast, etc., along with the songs used as backdrops for this story. Images used are taken from the net, except the edits or the collages I made using images found online.

Chapter 7 - On Senseis, Salutations and Moving On

I'm bulletproof nothing to lose

Fire away, fire away

Ricochet, you take your aim

Fire away, fire away

You shoot me down but I won't fall, I am titanium

You shoot me down but I won't fall

I am titanium, I am titanium, I am titanium, I am titanium

-Titanium by David Guetta-

Felicity looked around the room and at each of her friends. She had agonized over her choice to take a year before working and use it to check in on Sunnydale. She could not fathom going there without her support system but she should have known better that her friends would never let her go alone.

A lot had happened over the course of their matriculation and her tight knit group now included two new faces full time.

Vincent, a genetically enhanced military experiment who saved Catherine and her mother from an assasination attempt by the same organization that performed the experiments on him. He was a surgeon who joined the army and later volunteered to join the experimental studies thinking he would be able to make more of a difference against the war on terror.

When he discovered what Cat and the rest of them do in the evenings to keep the world safer, he started joining and helping us, choosing instead to make a difference by fighting the forces of darkness. Doing so helped him stay off the grid as people tended to turn a blind eye to the supernatural.

He inevitably fell in love with Cat and the feeling was mutual. In order to help him and her continue to live and be together peacefully, Felicity had used her skills to wipe any prior tracks his identity had and to create a new identity for him, allowing him to again live a semblance of a normal life. Well, about as normal as one would expect when one helps to fight vampires and other things that go bump in the night. She also switched his fingerprints from his old identity on every database as an added layer of precaution. She also messed with the tracking algorithms Muirfield had to keep track of him and Cat's family.

Another addition to the group is Ray Palmer who was a TA in one of Felicity's classes. When they first met they found common ground, dealing with the loss of someone they loved. At that time Felicity was still grieving the loss of Seldon Cooper and Ray had just lost Anna Loring from a long and protracted battle against cancer. They also bonded over their mutual love of technology.

Felicity had ended up having to tell Ray about vampires when she wound up having to save him from a friend of his that had been turned into one. Ray, being the person he was, could not walk away from the knowledge that the things they said went bump in the night actually did go bump.

He ended up working with Cisco and Ronnie, developing weapons and tools that would help them be safer and more effective in the battles they faced. One of the things he was working on was an exosuit that he hoped would help someone substantially weaker go up against a stronger opponent and level the playing field.

They eventually started dating and while the attraction was always mutual and they had a good relationship, they both felt that something was missing. Deciding to stay friends proved to be one of the best decisions they made becoming one another's best friend.

In the time since she met with Walter, she and her friends had to deal with their first Master Vampire, Yuki Makimura. She turned out to be a disgraced Vampire Slayer from the 18th Century, who not wanting to die, decided to align herself with The Master who Felicity knew from her shared memories, founded the Order of Aurelius.

Yuki, along with her Eidu, a sect of blind vampiric monks and warriors loyal to her, descended on the unsuspecting college town of Cambridge after learning of a newly called vampire slayer making waves in the supernatural community. They came with one intent, to test her mettle against the newly awakened slayer and turn her. Yuki was preparing to resurrect The Master and was working on amassing a force that she felt would be fitting to honor him.

The Eidu believed that they were given the gift of prophetic sight and foretold that the perfect host for The Master's resurrection had a connection to the new slayer.

They zeroed in on Ray Palmer as being the perfect host, good looking, brilliant and in good physical shape, Yuki already envisioned ruling alongside The Master with Felicity, the new slayer falling in line and succumbing to fears of dying early.

They had succeeded in abducting Ray but was surprised to find, that Felicity was far from helpless, with an established support system that had weapons and also counted two powered individuals amongst them, Liz Parker who had come into her own and could now properly wield the powers she acquired as a consequence of being healed by Max Evans and Vincent Keller, who had enhanced senses and abilities.

They were able to rescue Ray and decimate the Eidu.

Refusing to accept defeat, Yuki managed to corner Felicity, fully intending to defeat her and coerce her into embracing an immortal life.

So, what you're saying is that you're a what? A Slaypire? Is that even a thing? Felicity said as she parried another strike from Yuki. She was proving to be substantially stronger and more cunning than anything she had previously faced.

Felicity knew she was tiring out and it was taking every ounce of her strength and skill to try and match Yuki's movements using her chakra and a knife to counter moves made by the vampire wielding samurai steel to a level of proficiency that she had only seen in movies. Her movements which were a beauty to behold were almost a blur. Felicity had no doubt that if she were an ordinary person she would already be dead. As it was, despite all her gifts and skills, she was already questioning if she would be able to come out of this fight alive.

Kick, sweep, block, parry, thrust each move blurred and flowed one from the other.

Silly girl, I am stronger than you and you have yet to come into full possession of your gifts. I was sired by The Master and before that was already a slayer like you for several years. I have my gifts and all the enhancements that come from being a vampire. You will not be able to defeat me. Why do you keep trying? Taunted Yuki as she dodged a drop kick from Felicity.

Blah blah blah blah, you keep talking about how strong you are but all I see is someone who was so afraid to die that she embraced being everything she fought against. That's not strength lady, that's cowardice. Felicity said as she used her knife to push away Yuki's sword and her chakra to try and decapitate her. It was a move guaranteed to end the fight against anyone else but only succeeded in causing Yuki to stumble and in the process Felicity loses her grip on her knife, leaving her a weapon down.

In an effort to throw Yuki off balance, Felicity launches into a high kick aimed at her head but it only glances at Yuki's chin and Yuki is able to catch her legs and throw her to the ground knocking the wind out of her.

It takes Felicity a while to recover and it was all the opening that Yuki needed to press her advantage and pin her to the ground. She managed to avoid one strike by rolling away but she wasn't so lucky and Yuki managed to stab her in the gut.

Felicity knew enough about human anatomy to know the wound was fatal and that she would soon black out from blood loss. She came to the realization that this was indeed a fight she would not walk away from but she made the decision to take the bitch with her and fought to gather what little strength she had left to pull off one last gambit.

How does it feel knowing your life meant nothing? That despite whatever nobility you think you had you accomplished nothing? You feel your life draining away don't you? So after your brave words, cat got your tongue? Are you afraid to die yet? Bet my offer to turn you is suddenly oh so appealing. You could never beat me, you have nothing I don't have but I have all your gifts and then some. Yuki knew she had Felicity and relished the victory she already thought she had as she sniffed the scent of her blood in the air.

As she did that, Felicity saw her opening kicked up and launched into one roundhouse kick after another catching her unaware. Maybe you do have all my slayer gifts and some vampiric ones as well, but I have something you don't on my side, it's called technology and ain't it grand? As she says this, she activates the blades on her boots, and electricity that her friends recently modified it with, perfectly executing a spinning hook kick aimed at Yuki's neck, following up with her Chakra severing her head from her body, turning her to dust.

Felicity then collapsed, from blood loss and had a vague recollection of hearing Liz's voice along with her other friends. She's here, hurry guys. City, you aren't dying, I'm not gonna let you. All of a sudden she felt warmth and light engulf her. She thought to herself, there really is a light and then there was nothing.

She really thought she had died and she only survived because Liz got a vision in time and managed to find and heal her.

She owed her friends so much. They think she's always the one saving them but had no idea that for that moment and many others they've saved her so many times as well. She could not imagine ever going through life without having them by her side. But she really did not want them to put their lives on hold just to accompany her to a place that she had no idea what she'd find.

Wait, you didn't actually think we would let you go without us to Sunnydale, right? Ray looked at Felicity and gestured to everyone else in the room.

Come on City, never in a million years would we let you go on this adventure without us, chimed Cisco.

Not to mention, we just wouldn't feel right about you going to what they call a boca del inferno by yourself. Claimed Ronnie with his arms around Caitlin.

Don't even try to fight it, we're in this with you one hundred and ten percent, said Cat with Vincent in tow.

Ride or die gurl, said Julie.

Wherever the road takes us, claimed Fred.

You will never be alone City, as Liz hugs her.

Her friends as it turned out were already several steps ahead of her. Julie and Cat had already purchased a house for them in Sunnydale, while the others had already begun packing up the equipment they will be needing there.

They just had their graduation ceremonies both with their respective universities and with the Wu-San sisters and then they would be free to leave.

Anybody's got the power

They don't see it

'Cause they don't understand

Spin around and round for hours

You and me we got the world in our hands

Everyday people do

Everyday things but I

Can't be one of them

I know you hear me now

We are a different kind

We can do anything

We could be heroes

-Heroes by Alesso-

The MIT graduation ceremony was perfect, As expected Liz, Fred, Caitlin, Ronnie, Cisco, Ray and Felicity all graduated with honors and at the top of their respective courses. Julie and Cat, who went to Harvard, also graduated with the same distinction yesterday. Overall it was a good time, that they all got to spend with their families, taking way too many pictures.

Donna, Felicity's mom was thrilled upon learning they were all taking a yearly sabbatical to travel together before working, thinking of course that she was finally learning to loosen up and be adventurous.

It truly was the calm before what will be the storm.

Last night Felicity and Liz dreamed about Buffy Summers and hands clawing themselves from out of a grave. They both felt the imperative to get to her grave and tonight, as soon as they finished their final lessons with the Wu-San sisters, they were scheduled to board a private jet that would take them straight to Sunnydale.

As great as the MIT graduation was, Felicity was looking forward to their final lesson with their Senseis tonight.

Ever since she got stabbed by Yuki, Felicity recognized that she had a lot more to learn despite her natural proficiency and had since been learning sword fighting with Sensei Sandra. She treated it like any other subject she had to learn, she researched everything she could and sought instruction from people who had more experience in the field. She vowed that if it were within her power she would never be on the losing end of a sword match again.

Tonight, they were all expected to fight Sensei Sandra to display and showcase everything they learned. From starting just doing krav maga and jeet kune do, they ended up learning more styles and learning to adapt them from different disciplines. She also tried to pass on her ability to read her opponent to see what their next move would be.

The slayer in her was looking forward to testing her mettle. Unlike her friends who would do hand to hand combat only, she would have the added degree of difficulty of fighting with weapons as her match progressed. She would use the bo staff as well as a bokken (wooden sword) in the course of their match.

Upon getting to the Dojo they changed into their respective keikogi or uniforms and took their places around the mats.

The order in which they would proceed would be, Cisco, Liz, Fred, Caitlin, Ronnie, Ray, Cat, Julie, Vincent and Felicity.

The matches for Cisco, Liz, Fred, Caitlin and Ronnie went well enough, they were unable to totally match Sensei Sandra but were able to block enough of her hits and without taking serious hits. They were at least able to show that they learned enough from her that she was comfortable and secure in the knowledge that they could defend themselves.

The matches for Ray, Cat, Julie and Vincent were better, in that while unable to win against Sensei they were able to block all of her hits.

When it came time for her match, Felicity took her place on the mat, made her bow and assumed her starting position.

Sensei Sandra motioned for her to attack and just like that their match was underway.

She tried simple moves first to try and test her opponent's defenses and give her body time to create and adjust to a fighting rhythm. Whenever she fought humans she always had to make sure to dial her strength and speed so she wouldn't hurt anyone. Which initially made it harder for her whenever she fought Sensei Sandra who was considered by many to be the best martial artist in the world.

As expected her Sensei blocked her attacks but she noticed it wasn't as hard for her now to block and anticipate her moves. Maybe it was because she learned more over time or just part of the slayer package.

For those witnessing the match they were a sight to behold, seeming like two dancers moving at a highly choreographed pace of deadly precision.

Felicity saw her Sensei begin to wind up and prepare to use her signature move, the leopard fist which when properly applied could incapacitate or even kill an opponent. It can be likened to a half-opened fist where the primary striking surface is the ridge formed by folding the fingers at the first phalangeal joint with a secondary striking surface in the palm. It is also a move that can be modified mid movement into what has been likened to a leopard claw for grabbing and tearing opponents.

As soon as Felicity saw the muscles on her Sensei's elbow begin to tense she knew she only had a moment to act and that she had to do without letting on that she knew what was coming.

She purposely left an opening and made it look like she would take the hit and then gracefully moved away, feigning to the right, taking hold of Sandra's punching arm and using her momentum against her to hit her in the solar plexus knocking the wind out of her, letting Felicity sweep her feet off her taking her down and keeping her there.

Sensei Sandra kicked out and said, 'Well played, Felicity, but let's see how well you do with this.' and with that moved for the weapons grabbing one of the staves.

Felicity dodged her attack, somersaulted over her and grabbed a bo staff and faced Sensei blocking her strikes in earnest.

As soon as Felicity was able to gain momentum she performed a pressing block and then did an aerial cartwheel to get behind catching her Sensei off guard. She then carefully pressed her advantage with her bo staff smoothly transitioning from a series of front spins to an overhead helicopter spin while blocking and continuing to control the rhythm of the fight. She then finished with an upward flower spin knocking her Sensei's bo staff and knocking the staff away.

Sensei Sandra went on to grab a wooden sword quickly and Felicity had to concentrate on blocking and parrying thrusts away using her bo staff while simultaneously trying to move toward grabbing a wooden sword as well.

Once she was able to grab her own sword, finally able to get rid of the bo staff, the fight moved at a fast and furious space where you heard the continuous and rapid sounds of their swords striking one another.

The fight progressed with them moving and making complete use of the mats, tumbling and using fighting moves from across various disciplines.

Throughout it Felicity observed, studied and bided her time until she found her moment and finally managed to disarm Sensei, ending the match.

When it was said and done, both the Wu-San sisters addressed each of their students giving their final comments and notes.

Addressing their group together, Sensei Sandra said, 'It is safe to say that we have never had a group as dedicated as yours has been. We confidently send you out knowing you are equipped to defend yourselves and that the skills we have passed on will be used responsibly. Know that our doors will always be open to your group. While you can never predict what you will face in life, be secure in the knowledge that you possess all the tools you need to face whatever challenges life may throw your way and that there is nothing you cannot overcome.'

Seeking Felicity out after, Senseis Sandra and Carolyn pulled her aside and presented her with two long knives saying 'We wanted to give you this. People say they used to belong to Queen Boadicea. We felt it would be symbolic in helping you lead your group in facing the challenges ahead. Though we've never addressed it, we have always known you are a Slayer and tried our best to teach you everything we know. May this gift and those skills help you in the years to come.'

Felicity wasn't sure how to properly respond, choosing instead to hug both of them. They were her mentors and no matter what happened she vowed to always make them proud.